Pittsburgh Power Suffer Historic Home Loss To SaberCats

I remember being taught at a young age, when you don’t have something nice to say about someone, you shouldn’t say anything at all. The problem is I’d have a real short column this week and wouldn’t be doing my job covering the team for PSN.

It was a game for the record books, and not in a good way for the home team. The Pittsburgh Power (3-13) played their final home game of the 2013 season and lost to the San Jose SaberCats (12-4) by a score of 78-20. It was 48-7 at halftime and the 58 point final margin of victory set an AFL record for biggest home team loss in league history.

Starting quarterback Steven Sheffield did not suit up because of a concussion he suffered last week in Cleveland and unfortunately the rest of the team played like they had the same concussion. New starter Shane Austin was off the mark the entire night with many of his passes sailing high or wide. He finished his night early, completing 21 of 42 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions and he was sacked six times. He also had a pass ruled a backwards fumble which was recovered by San Jose.

Mike Washington managed to pull in a few passes from Shane Austin and had five catches for 57 yards and all three of the Power touchdowns on the night. Tyrone Collins had 12 catches for 112 yards.

San Jose starting quarterback Russ Michna only played one half, finishing 15 of 17 for 156 yards and five touchdowns. Huey Whittaker played a great all around Ironman game, with seven catches for 58 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception on defense. Former Power wideout Jason Willis had nine catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Clevan Thomas had two interceptions (one for a touchdown) to earn Defensive Player of the Game. Overall the SaberCats had eight sacks and six more quarterback hurries.

It’s amazing that we’ve come to this point with the Power. It doesn’t seem like that long ago the Power were only a game back of Philadelphia in the standings and had beaten the Soul on the road. Since that win over the Soul, the Power have lost seven games in a row and eight of their last nine. Philadelphia has gone in the other direction winning six in a row and eight of nine overall.

It’s not just the losses this year, it’s how bad the Power have been beaten in some of these games. They opened the year with two blowouts at home but tonight was the worst of them all, in front of the second largest crowd of the year. I share in the frustration Power fans, believe me and I have to hope that major changes will be upcoming in the offseason.